The sun thankfully and luckily came out for the highly prestigious ORA Intercampus Olympics at the Roger Bannister running track. The morning consisted of designing and creating customized red t-shirts and flags, all bearing the Balliol lion. The students were highly determined to create the brightest and best fan equipment to provide the best support for the competitors.
The students staying at Balliol College joined other students staying at Yarnton Manor, Queen’s and St Catherine’s Colleges to fill the stands and let the games commence. An eclectic mixture of events took place, from the more traditional races such as the 100m and 200m sprints to the slightly wackier ‘welly wanging’ – which is a sport originating in Britain, where competitors are required to hurl a wellington boot as far as possible within the boundary lines. Students also took part in more silly events (much to the amusement of both themselves and the crowd); space hopper throwing, egg and spoon races, three legged race and lastly the costume race – where every ten meters each contestant has to put on different items of clothing.
The finale was a staff race, competing in the 4X100m relay. This got every student on their feet, cheering on their respective Colleges. The Intercampus Olympics gave ORA students a real taste of what inter college competition can be like at the University of Oxford.